FLORENCE, SC – Despite a career-high 24 kills from outside hitter Lexi Albright, Francis Marion University lost a marathon 13-25, 28-26, 25-21, 21-25, 15-8 decision to visiting UNC Pembroke, Wednesday night (Sept. 14) in the Conference Carolinas opener for both squads.
 
Francis Marion (5-5, 0-1) will host Erskine College on Friday at 7 p.m. and Emmanuel College (Ga.) on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
Prior to the match, members of the 2021 FMU squad that won the Conference Carolinas Tournament title were presented with their championship rings.
 
Albright tallied her career-high total while also hitting .365 and recording 17 digs and two service aces.  Middle blocker Caroline Lucas registered nine kills and five blocks.
 
FMU setter Kaylee Gillespie handed out 43 assists and served three aces, while libero Katie Floyd added a team-high 19 digs and three aces.
 
Shannon Skryd paced the Braves (4-9, 1-0) with 18 kills and 12 digs, while setters Morgan Gibbs and Katie Pressley dished out 25 and 21 assists respectively.
 
Francis Marion easily took the opening set by finishing with a 12-3 run.  The Patriots held a 20-14 advantage in the second set, but UNCP rallied with its own 14-6 run.  After the Braves claimed set No.3, the two squads battled through a fourth set that featured 10 ties and nine lead changes.  Middle blocker Kalee Peter pounded out the clinching point for the Patriots at 25-21 and the match headed to a fifth set.
 
Leading by a narrow 3-2 count, the Braves used a 9-1 spurt to help secure the victory, and take the initial upper hand in the annual Battle of I-95 series.

 
 
UNC Pembroke def. Francis Marion Univ. 13-25,28-26,25-21,21-25,15-8
 
UNC Pembroke (4-9,1-0 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Skryd,
Shannon 18-0-0; Daley, Precious 13-4-3; Przulj, Vanja 10-0-2; Warren,
Brianna 9-0-2; Gibbs, Morgan 3-1-0; O'Donnell, Erin 3-0-1; Coleman,
Lane 0-2-0; Pressley, Katie 0-2-0; Totals 56-9-4.0. (Assists) - Gibbs,
Morgan 25; Pressley, Katie 21. (Dig leaders) - Daley, Precious 22;
Przulj, Vanja 16; Skryd, Shannon 12; Coleman, Lane 10
 
Francis Marion Univ. (5-5,0-1 Conference C) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Lexi
Albright 24-2-1; Caroline Lucas 9-0-5; Katie Kemp 6-2-3; Kalee Peter
5-1-3; Lily Walton 4-0-2; De'Asia Hill 3-0-1; Keely Mclain 1-1-0;
Beyonce Andrews 0-0-1; Kaylee Gillespie 0-3-2; Zoie Larkins 0-2-0;
Katie Floyd 0-3-0; Totals 52-14-9.0. (Assists) - Kaylee Gillespie 43.
(Dig leaders) - Katie Floyd 19; Lexi Albright 17; Zoie Larkins 12
 
Site: Florence, SC (Smith University Cen)
Date: 09/14/22       Attend: 377   Time: 2:17